what is the order of the strongest pain killers from greatest to least
In order which is this which is the strongest painkillers?
Question posted by Fredwoodruff2 on 21 March 2013
Last updated on 1 April 2017
Answers
There is no true way to do this. There are different classifications of drugs and many within the same classification are similar in strength and it is a matter of opinion on which ones are stronger. As a general rule, you can go by their controlled substance classification. CII's tend to be the stronger ones, like Morphine, oxycontin/oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydromorphone methadone and fentanyl. CII's have the highest abuse potential, CIII's are next strongest. This includes drugs like Tylenol with codeine, hydrocodone, propoxyphene (which is no longer on the US market). CI's are illicit drugs or drugs with no medical uses.
C-IV's and CV's tend to be drugs more like tranquilizers and benzos but there may be some like Tramadol and Fioricet that are in the CIV or V category
If I were going to give it a shot, I would say of the CII's least strong to strongest would be morphine, oxycodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone methadone, then fentanyl but those in the middle are really very similar in strength and it is a matter of opinion on which is stronger. Then with the CIII's Tylenol with codeine is weaker than hydrocodone. I'm sure I am forgetting some but that is about the best I can do. You could try checking an opioid conversion chart. Google "opioid conversion chart" there are several online. You can put in a dose of one medication and it will give you an equivalent dose of another.
Starting from the weaker pain killers on top going to the ones that are the strongest on the bottom of the list:
Aspirin
Difusinal
Dextropropoxyphene
Codeine
Tramadol
Anileridine
Demerol
Hydrocodone
Morphine
Oxycodone
Morphine IV/IM
Hydromorphone
Oxymorphone
Levorphanol
Buprenorphine
Fentanyl
Carfentanyl
Mhelcl... your list is fine, but Methadone should be somewhere after Oxymorphone , but before Fentanyl!! but actually, this list in inaccurate, everyone has a different reaction as to how pain medication works on them! Some people feel that vicodin works better for them and their pain than Oxycodone or even Oxymorphone! It is really hard to list the strongest to the weakest or vice versa because everyone is different in the way that the medications effect them!!
Believe me... I know!! I have been on every pain killer known to man! and because of that, I am now a recovering addict on the methadone program because of the doctors out there who don't care what they give to people or how much that they give to them and then once the get you hooked on the meds they cut you off without offering treatment!
No The list Is Indeed Very Acurate. Your Talking About A Very Small Percentage Of People. An Thans Just A Matter Of Opinion You Are Not Dealing In The Facts.
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